Adam Cooper F1

The FIA published the definitive 2012 F1 Sporting Regulations today, providing some extra detail on changes agreed by the World Motor Sport Council and already announced.

The aspect most likely to lead to controversy over the course of this season relates to an update to the one change of direction rule.

Article 20.3 reads: “More than one change of direction to defend a position is not permitted. Any driver moving back towards the racing line, having earlier defended his position off‐line, should leave at least one car width between his own car and the edge of the track on the approach to the corner.”

New to the rules is a reference intended to stop drivers from taking short cuts to gain time during in or out laps in qualifying, as practised by Sebastian Vettel in Korea: “A driver may not deliberately leave the track without justifiable reason”.

Among the other changes is the return to allowing lapped cars to regain their lap under a safety car – thus getting them out of the way and increasing the chance of a clean fight for the lead following a race resumption. However, the FIA make it clear that it won’t always be possible to do so.

Article 40.12 reads: “If the clerk of the course considers it safe to do so, and the message ‘LAPPED CARS MAY NOW OVERTAKE’ is shown on the timing monitors, any cars that have been lapped by the leader will be required to pass the cars on the lead lap and the safety car.

“This will only apply to cars that were lapped at the time they crossed the Line at the end of the lap during which they crossed the first Safety Car line for the second time after the safety car was deployed.

“Having overtaken the cars on the lead lap and the safety car these cars should then proceed around the track at an appropriate speed, without overtaking, and take up position at the back of the line of cars behind the safety car.

“Whilst they are overtaking, and in order to ensure this may be carried out safely, the cars on the lead lap must always stay on the racing line unless deviating from it is unavoidable. If the clerk of the course considers track conditions are unsuitable for overtaking the message ‘OVERTAKING WILL NOT BE PERMITTED’ will be shown on the timing monitors.”

Under Article 42.3 lapped cars also have the chance to get their lap back under a red flag suspension: “At the two minute point any cars between the safety car and the leader, in addition to any cars that had been lapped by the leader at the time the race was suspended, will be waved off to complete a further lap, without overtaking, and join the line of cars behind the safety car.”

Nico Hulkenberg says that he’s a much stronger driver after his year as Sahara Force India’s reserve.

The German drove in 14 practice sessions over the course of 2011, and did enough to justify a race seat for next season.

“I haven’t been racing, but I have been driving the car, I have been around, I’ve done the simulator, and I’ve been involved with everything,” he told this blog. “So it’s not as new to me as in the beginning of 2010. I’ve still developed and learned in different ways.”

He admitted that being out for a year has made him more motivated: “It’s absolutely true, it makes you appreciate what you have then.”

Hulkenberg says he doesn’t know what the team’s real potential is for next year, although obviously showing well against Paul Di Resta is a priority.

“I wouldn’t say so much in terms of results. I’m back now, I want to establish myself, satisfy my team. As you say, your team mate is always the reference point. He’s very competitive, and in his second year he will also up his game a little bit, so it’s difficult to judge. I’m just pleased for the moment that I’m back, and I’ll try as hard as I can to make myself and the team happy.”

Kimi Raikkonen says he’s fully motivated and doesn’t expect to have any problems in getting up to speed in 2012.

He’s also confirmed that in January he will have a run in a two-year-old car, which is allowed under the testing restrictions.

“I am more motivated than ever and I don’t think I’ve lost any speed,” the Finn said in an interview with the LRGP website. “Getting on top of the tyres will be the hardest thing, of course, but I’m not really worried.

“Although the technical regulations don’t seem to change much, they apply to a lot of areas and quite a few elements will have to be re-designed. As a result, the cars will be significantly different next year. The order could be shaken up, which will make things very interesting.”

Raikkonen said he’s been impressed by the team so far.

“My two visits to Enstone have been great. The first one, at the team’s Christmas party, made me realise how much support I have there. The second one, last week, allowed me to understand that this team has not been world champion by coincidence. I also saw all the investments they have made recently: new simulator building, CFD upgrade, 60% wind tunnel… It gives me a lot of confidence for the season ahead.

“We don’t test the new car until February so it’s a long wait. However, I should be able to jump into a two-year-old F1 car in January. Of course, there will be the usual training, but I will also be working on getting to know the team better and making sure I fully understand all the changes since I have been away.”

Asked about his targets for testing, he said: “Finding out if we have a fast car! For me, learning how the team works will be another important aspect. Learning Pirelli’s tyres will be the most important job, as it’s a different approach from what I experienced before.”

Somebody paid $984,000, including fees, for Michael Delaney's race suit...

A set of overalls worn by Steve McQueen in the Le Mans movie has been sold at auction for an amazing $984,000 including commission fees – making them the most expensive item of motor racing related memorabilia we’re ever likely to see, excluding complete cars.

The overalls, bearing the name Michael Delaney, were given away in a UK newspaper competition in 1971.

The Profiles in History auction catalogue explained it thus: “When principal filming of Le Mans was completed, Solar Productions donated this suit to the British newspaper, The Observer for a special Le Mans-themed contest in 1971. By answering 3 Le Mans history questions correctly, 12 year-old Timothy Davies of Wolverhampton, England was chosen as the winner and presented with the suit by racing driver Richard “Dickie” Attwood, winner of the 1970 Le Mans race and driver of the Porsche 917K Gulf car during driving sequences in the film.”

Davies is not the big beneficiary however, as he had sold the overalls on. No doubt for somewhat less than they went for…

Also in the auction were items such as Marilyn Monroe’s wedding ring and the ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz, although the latter failed to sell.

Luca di Montezemolo used Ferrari’s Xmas lunch today to encourage the team to work harder in the build-up to 2012.

Over 1000 team members and suppliers – including the drivers – were present to hear Montezemolo celebrate 20 years in the job.

He made it clear that the team underperformed this season, but said he was positive about next year.

“I want to be optimistic, because I can see the concentration and the attention to detail which characterises the efforts being made by Domenicali and his people, by Fry, Marmorini, Lanzone and Tombazis,” he said in a speech to the assembled staff.

“Work is going on in all areas to improve, from the design of the new car, to the simulation work, from preparing for the pit stops, to the starts and so on.

“We cannot be happy with the way this year went and there is a great desire to redeem ourselves, because results don’t come on their own, they are not delivered by a stork. It will take hard work from every one of you, it will come from the ability to be perfect, to start from pole position and that ability is the strength of this company. Behind amazing products there are amazing men and women.”

Montezemolo emphasised that Felipe Massa has to raise his game.

“All the ingredients are in place to start winning again. Great things are also expected from our drivers for next season. Felipe knows next year is very important for him, but it is up to us to give him a competitive car. If we manage it, then I am sure we will rediscover the Felipe who delivered so much and who could be quicker than Michael and Kimi.”

He also praised Fernando Alonso.

“Fernando has had an amazing season, even though he did not have a competitive car and he made us all happy at Silverstone, with an emblematic victory, given it came at the same circuit and in the same month in which, sixty years ago, Ferrari took its first ever Formula 1 win.

“What I like about our drivers is their ability to work with the team. I knew that about Felipe and it was a pleasant surprise to find out the same applied to Fernando. I don’t like drivers who turn up at the track with their briefcase and do not share in the daily life of the team – they are not Ferrari people.”

He concluded: “My job is to provide the best possible conditions for you to do yours. I expect a big effort from you and a great desire to do well. Winning depends on us, not on others.”

Most people have better things to do on a Saturday afternoon before Christmas, but today the hard working HRT press office has dispatched a Q&A with new team principal Luis Perez Sala. Given that the team is undergoing change – and that it has one of only two available seats –  I thought it was worth running here in full. So if you are not out shopping you can read it too…

Q: You arrived at HRT in July as a sporting advisor and now you are the Team Principal, what are your feelings and how are you taking on this new task you are presented with?

“This past July, the owners of HRT offered me the opportunity of advising them in this project they were embarking on and it felt an interesting challenge. This new step from advisor to Team Principal is a very important one and it is a great honour for me that the new owners have placed their trust in me to take on the bigger responsibility that comes with this job. It is an important challenge to be at the head of this team, even though it is a small one, and build a project that would be viable in the future and one that we can all feel proud of. It is a nice challenge. I will try to contribute my experience so that the goals we’ve set ourselves become a reality, never forgetting to be humble and knowing that we have a lot to learn and much work to do.”

Q: As a Formula 1 driver you raced for Minardi who, just like HRT, were a small team. How has F1 changed since then?

“I keep very good memories of my experience with Minardi. Since then, Formula 1 has evolved a lot, mainly technologically in aspects such as aerodynamics and electronics. Back then, it was already very professionalized but now the teams have considerably enlarged their structures and it’s all a lot more sophisticated. And there are still a lot of people from back then working in F1.”

Q: All that hard work is paying off and now the team is making a notable change. How do you think the Formula 1 world and the general public are portraying these changes?

“We’re a small team and sometimes it is hard to realise what that entails. Still, especially on a national level, I think people perceive positively the change in direction that the team has been taking these last few months. Little by little people are starting to trust us. Internationally there are still perhaps some doubts with respect to what will happen, but those doubts can only be cleared with time. With every grand prix people will see how implicated we are, our continuity and the serious work we are carrying out.”

Q: HRT is undergoing a profound restructuring and identity process ahead of its third season, which is the path to follow now?

“As of now our main objective is to consolidate the structure of our team. We still have to bring in people and determine important roles but that’s normal and we are ready for it. Now the most important thing is, with the strategy defined, to finish setting the basis so that, from there, we can begin to grow and build a future.”

Q: What would you say are the strengths and weaknesses of the team?

“Right now the main strength of the team is the people that make it up. There is a good group of professionals, with a lot of desire and willpower and faith in this project, this is very important because the sacrifices that are being made and that will have to be made are big ones. The major weakness is that the team is still going through a process of change and we are in December and Formula 1 doesn’t stop. This is a competition where the deadlines are established and where you’re being examined publicly, officially and permanently. That is the main inconvenience for us at this time of restructuring. But one thing is for sure and that is that we will work to the fullest and put in all our effort.”

Q: What are HRT’s goals in the short, medium and long term?

“In the short term the main objective is to consolidate the project. Create a strong team in Spain that works, with the technical area in Munich. And of course to have the 2012 car ready for the start of the season to be able to take part in the first race and all the preseason tests that we can. In the medium term we intend to improve the car and get closer to our rivals than last year. To see which are our strengths and weaknesses and work on them to improve at every grand prix. In the long run, with a better car and a solid structure, we will think about the strategy for 2013 and, above all, 2014 when there will be major changes to regulations.”

Q: In just under two months preseason testing gets underway, how do you think that the changes the structure is going through will affect the team at the start of the season?

“The task ahead of us, with the design of the car and change of headquarters, is huge. Formula 1 is very complicated and implies a lot of preparation work as it so, in this respect, HRT is a little bit behind other teams. We will feel the effects of this transformation the team is going through and will have “pay” for it at the start of the season. We’re not going to be at the same level as when we finished this past season, where the same team had been running for two years, but we’re aware of that. We’re taking a step back so that we can take two forward. 2012 will be an important year for us to settle and face a more natural and stable situation in 2013.”

Q: Pedro de la Rosa said that one of the main reasons for him to join this project was you and Saúl Ruiz de Marcos. How do you assess that?

“It makes me very happy that Pedro has trusted so much in us and I hope that we can return his trust with results. As our relationship grows I hope that he feels proud to have made this decision.”

Q: Talking of drivers, at what stage is the decision regarding the second driver?

“We are in advanced talks with several drivers but we can’t anticipate anything yet. It’s a decision we surely won’t make until the start of next year because, at this stage, who will be the team’s second driver for next season is perhaps the least urgent one right now.”

Q: The other question is where the team’s base will be. What can you tell us with regards to this?

“Right now we are working at a provisional base in Valencia until the location of the permanent headquarters is defined. There a few strong options but nothing is closed yet. Once everything is sealed we will make it official.”

Sahara Force India has finally confirmed the not unexpected news that Nico Hulkenberg has been promoted from his third driver role to partner Paul Di Resta in 2012.

Dr Vijay Mallya waited until the day after the team’s Xmas party – which he signalled as a deadline some time ago – before making the news public. No third driver has been named as yet.

Mallya said: “In Paul and Nico we have two extremely talented drivers with tremendous potential.

“I think Paul caught the eye of everybody in the pit lane during his rookie season. His speed, maturity and racecraft confirmed that we were right to believe in him and we look forward to working with him again next year.

“As for Nico, we identified him as a rising star at the end of 2010 and chose to evaluate him during the course of this season. Despite having only limited time in the car, he convinced us that he deserved a race seat for 2012.

“Our new line-up means we say ‘goodbye’ to Adrian Sutil, who has been with the team since we entered the sport. He has been an integral part of our success over the past four seasons and we wish him well for the future.”

Hulkenberg has had to be content with Friday FP1 sessions this year after being dropped by Williams at the end of last season.

Hulkenberg said: “I’m obviously delighted to be staying with Sahara Force India and to be given the chance to race next year. It wasn’t easy to watch from the sidelines this season, but I did my best to help the team and show what I was capable of.

“I’m extremely motivated for 2012 and would like to thank everyone for believing in me and giving me this chance. I’m keen to get down to work over the winter to develop our new car and help the team build on this year’s achievements. The first test in Jerez can’t come soon enough.”

Adrian Sutil, who finished ninth in the 2011 World Championship, is thus by co-incidence relying on landing a seat at Williams. However he faces stiff competition given that several other drivers, including some with budgets, are now on the market.

More later…

Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne was in Paris when STR told him that he had a drive for 2012, and he celebrated today by using the simulator at Red Bull’s facility in the UK. Intriguingly he admits in this Q&A issued by the team that he thought he might only have the third driver role in 2012.

We see you’re celebrating your drive by working in the simulator. Must be a good feeling knowing you will be getting the benefit of all this work yourself next year?

“I think it’s a good thing to be working today, just a few hours after hearing that I have the drive with Toro Rosso next season. It helps me keep my feet on the ground, but in any case, I love the work, driving either the real car or in the simulator. It also makes a difference knowing that the work I’m doing in the simulator is now for my own benefit on track and not just for other drivers.”

How did you get the news that you were a fully fledged F1 driver?

“I was at home in Paris when I got the call. I was very excited and keen to tell everyone, but I did not dare phone anyone until the team told me that it had put out the official press release. Once I knew it was out there, I started calling my parents and my family of course and my trainer and others who have helped me along the way. After that, I could not make any calls because people were ringing me nonstop.”

You mentioned that a lot of people have helped you with your career, so this might be a good time to thank them.

“Obviously, Red Bull is top of the list and without them I would not be in Formula 1; maybe I’d still be in college. After that, I have to say that the FFSA, the French motor sport federation has been a great help, backing me ever since I was racing karts. Then I won a Federation championship called the Autosport Academy, so they got me on my way before I became part of the Red Bull programme.”

Did you have any other plans in place for 2012?

“I think I might have been the third driver for the team, running in Friday practice again and maybe tackling another season of World Series. But now I don’t have to think about that because my plans for next year are fixed in the best way possible.”

After finishing in the silver medal position in the Renault 3.5 championship, you then had a busy time running three practice sessions with Scuderia Toro Rosso and doing the Young Driver Test for Red Bull Racing. Were they very different kinds of pressure?

“It’s all the same for me, because, whenever I am behind the wheel, whatever the car, whatever the formula, I always enjoy myself and do not feel any pressure. I just try to always give my best and to be as professional as possible.”

Daniel Ricciardo has been your team-mate before, so how do you think the two of you will get along together this time?

“I think it’s fantastic for me to be team mates with him. He’s a great guy and I like him as a friend. We joined the Red Bull programme together so we have known one another for a long time, working together in other series. In Formula 1, you only get one team-mate, so you have to make the best of it, working together to do as good a job as possible for the team. We have similar driving styles and we get on well and that will be a positive factor for us next year. Dan could probably have a slight edge over me at first as he has done eleven races this year, but let’s see how it develops, as we have all the winter testing ahead of us before we start racing. I know that I have a lot to learn, so I hope I can do that quickly. I am conscious it could be very tough, but I also know that in general, I learn and I adapt very quickly: certainly that was the case in every category that I have raced in so far. Formula 1 is different, tougher than all the rest, but I feel confident.”

What are your plans between now and February testing?

“After some time in the simulator, I will spend Christmas with my family and the rest of the time will be spent training, because it will be important to be as fit and as well prepared as possible for what will be a very long and tough season.”

Having signed up now, does it mean you can actually have an input on the technical side of next year’s Toro Rosso car?

“Over the past couple of months, when I have been working with the team, along with the engineers, we have already looked into things like my position in the car and other areas. Of course, in the next few weeks, I will be going to the factory in Faenza to meet with the engineers and also to try and get to know everyone in the team a bit better, even if we established a good relationship when I was with the team in the last part of this season. I’ve got quite a few questions going round in my head, so it will be good to get to Italy and discuss everything calmly before it’s time to get in the cockpit again.”

Scuderia Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost insists that the role of his team is to train rookies, and says Sebastian Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari have both had their chance.

The decision to replace both drivers with Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne has caused some surprise in F1 circles, but Tost says that it is a logical one.

“Our driver line-up had been under discussion for a long time as it is obviously a vital component of the team’s performance,” said Tost in an interview issued by the team. “The final decision was taken in a meeting at Red Bull headquarters in Austria on 13 December 2011.

“We do not wish to discuss our driver contracts, but let’s just say that it is their performance level in the car that is the deciding factor and if they do a good job, this will help their cause in terms of how long they stay with us.”

Regarding the departures of Buemi and Alguersuari, Tost said: “Sebastien has been with us for three seasons and Jaime for two and a half. Both of them worked hard for the team, doing their very best and achieving some good results.

“However, Scuderia Toro Rosso’s ethos has always been that of the ‘rookie training school’ and with over two seasons under your belt, you are no longer a rookie. In an ideal world, drivers would move from Scuderia Toro Rosso to Red Bull Racing, but there are no vacancies with our sister team right now. It might be seen as a harsh decision, but Formula 1 is a tough environment, and Toro Rosso has always been very clear about the principles behind its driver choice.”

Tost denied that it was frustrating to have to take rookie drivers.

“No, it’s not frustrating, in fact quite the opposite. It is a very interesting experience for everyone in the team to work with young drivers and it means you can educate them the way you want. Everyone, from the race engineers to the communications people can try and give the new drivers good habits, which they can use for the rest of their career.”

He said that despite his experience, Ricciardo won’t be regarded as the number one driver.

“No, although given that he has some actual F1 racing experience, it would be natural for him to settle into the job more quickly. However, Jean-Eric has shown he learns rapidly so I expect him to be on the pace quite soon. It will be important for the team to ensure we give them as many kilometres as possible in winter testing.

“It is always good to know who your drivers are as early as possible. For one thing, weeks of speculation are usually disruptive to the work of a team. Although we know our two new drivers quite well, it also means they can already start working with the engineers, assimilating information and even having some input into minor details regarding the new car. It also means I can be sure they are taking their winter fitness training very seriously!”

Daniel Ricciardo was at home in Australia when he learned that he has an STR seat for 2012. The team has issued the following Q&A with him.

Dan, congratulations on getting a drive with Scuderia Toro Rosso. How does it feel?

“It feels amazing! It’s nice coming into next season knowing what I’m doing and being able to focus solely on that. I am looking forward to working with a good group of people that I already spent a lot of time with this year. So there’s plenty to look forward to in 2012.”

How did you find out you had the drive?

“I was actually at home, it was after dinner and the phone call came. It was short, sharp and to the point, but it contained all the news I wanted to hear. It was an awesome Christmas present and a big relief. I was with Mum and Dad at the time and I came out of my room and told them the news and it felt pretty special.”

Since the last race of 2011 in Brazil, were you ever concerned you might not have a drive for 2012?

“Until something is done you are always going to be a little bit concerned, but I know everyone at Red Bull is looking after my interests and I felt I had done a good enough job this year for them to try and find me a seat for 2012. I had faith something would come through.”

You’ve had a busy year, starting out driving Free Practice 1 for us and then actually racing in the last eleven Grands Prix from Silverstone onwards. What are the main lessons you learned this year?

“Looking back at the whole year, I did more travelling than ever before in my life and I found out it can be really tiring and can take it out of you. So I learned how important it is to be on time and to manage my time as efficiently as possible and to rest when I can. There was so much to take in this year and from the driving point of view, as a reserve driver you can see everything the job involves, but until you are actually racing, you do not realise the demands it puts on you, so that was another important lesson. I learned to get my priorities right and not waste my energy elsewhere.”

How well do you know your new team mate, Jean-Eric Vergne?

“Pretty well. We were signed up as part of the Red Bull Junior team on the same day and we were team-mates back then, in the Renault 2.0 series. I spent some time with him at his house in France, going karting together. We had a pretty good relationship by the standard of racing driver team-mates. As we progressed, the rivalry got stronger between us, but the important thing is that we respect one another. We both want to beat each other more than anyone else and it’s been like that since we first raced together. It’s a good thing and means we will get the maximum out of the equipment we are given. Next year will be a proper test for both of us.”

When will you be coming back to Europe?

“I have spoken to Laurent (Mekies, Chief Engineer) and we are putting together a pre-season programme now. I imagine that very early in the new year I will have to abandon the beautiful Australian summer and head for freezing Italy and get down to business, making sure I am as well prepared as possible.”

It means you’ve got the best incentive to push hard on your winter training.

“Yes, my trainer told me I could take it easy until Christmas, but once I heard I got the drive I wanted to go out and bash myself up in the gym.”

Having signed up now, does it mean you can actually have an input on the technical side of next year’s Toro Rosso car?

“Yes, there are some areas where we can start early. For example, there are different options for my position in the cockpit and the layout of the steering wheel and the team has already asked me about my preferences for this. It means that coming into testing I should be comfortable and feel the car is mine.”